ARCHERFIELD (QLD)

1960's - OLD ARCHERFIELD SPEEDWAY

The track known as the Old Archerfield Speedway was a track raced on prior to the construction of the new track in 1979, The old track was located in what is the pit area of the current track, and the pits were where the current track is.

1983 - Barry Pinchbeck (New South Wales)

1983 - Ian Saville (New South Wales)

1984 - AUSTRALIAN SPEEDWAY STAR REPORTED

(Article by Chris Metcalf)

Pilgrim Wins World Speedcar Derby

Pilgrim Takes 1984 World Speedcar Derby in Queensland
Geoff Pilgrim returned to the scene of his 1983 Speedcar Championship
win to whip a World Class field in the 1984 World Speedcar Derby.On the same track where he won his 1983 Australian Speedcar Title, Geoff
Pilgrim took out the 1984 World Speedcar Derby. The Archerfield track saw
Pilgrim repeat his Championship winning drive with what was a marvelous display
of racing.The Speedcar Repechage saw a rather depleted field of only eleven line
up to face the Russell Goode green flag. Ray Michelle led the field away with
Paul Lindberg in close pursuit. Barry Pinchbeck was the first to go when he
spun in turn one, being T-boned by Graham Osborne. Pinchbeck was unable to
continue and his request to change vehicles (Mark Kiehne offered Pinchbeck his
car) was refused. In the crowd’s opinion, and I tend to agree with them, it
should have been Keith Hutton excluded as cause of the stoppage. Ray Michelle
made the most of his lead as he led home Paul Lindberg and North Queensland’s
Mike O’Donnell. The other drivers to qualify for the fifty lapper through the
repechage were Barrie Watt, Errol Baldwin and Graham OsborneAs the green flag dropped, twenty top
Speedcar drivers raced into turn one all jostling to get the best position.Col
McMahon was leading as they raced out of turn one and two. His lead didn’t last
long however as Geoff Pilgrim and Eric Mitchell relegated the Northerner to
third. The red lights came on as Stan Burrow pulled up in turn one leaving Paul
Lindberg nowhere to go but into him. From the restart Eric Mitchell led away,
but Pilgrim rocketed past and started to put some air between himself and the
rest of the field. On lap ten the red lights were back on as Gordon Clough
stalled in turn two. At the restart Sleepy Tripp was up to second and set about
catching the flying West Aussie. The reds were back on again on lap eighteen
when Graham Osborne decided to look at the track from a different angle by
going end over end in turn four. Pilgrim once again led away as Barry Wixted
raced past Sleepy Tripp into second, which got the crowd roaring madly.The
crowd really went mad when Sleepy Tripp retired his VW with mechanical failure,
giving Pilgrim a big advantage over Wixted.Wixted was dropping further back
through the field lap by lap as Pilgrim’s lead was now extended to half a lap.
American, Johnny Pearson had made his way through the field and was now sitting
in second ahead of Peter Clough and Barry Wixted. Pilgrim was now unopposed as
he won the 1984 World Derby. The Queensland crowd really showed their
appreciation by giving him a tremendous ovation as he crossed the line to break
his recent losing streak. John Pearson followed his good showing in the time
trials up with a good second. Peter Clough pushed his Offenhauser to its
extreme limits to grab third. Barry Wixted, after pressuring Geoff Pilgrim
early on could only manage fourth. Geoff Pilgrim tonight showed us the true
champion that he is and I would like to see him back in Brisbane soon because
the two major events he has entered here, he has won (1983 Australian
Championship, and 1984 World Derby). Good luck in the future Geoff.